CHIEF Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth Ephraim Mirvis is set to arrive in Australia this week for his first visit Down Under since assuming the role just over a year ago.

A former Chief Rabbi of Ireland, Rabbi Mirvis stepped into the shoes of Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks last September.

During his trip, he is scheduled to spend 12 days in Australia, visiting Perth, Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne, before flying to New Zealand where he will spend time in Wellington and Auckland.

In Sydney, he has a packed itinerary, speaking at Masada, Moriah, Mount Sinai and Kesser Torah Colleges, delivering the keynote speech at Bnei Akiva’s 65th birthday celebration and addressing the community at an open function at NCJWA Fanny Reading Council House. He will also appear at Central Synagogue, South Head Synagogue, the Jewish Learning Centre and North Shore Synagogue.

North Shore Synagogue’s Rabbi Paul Lewin, who is in charge of the Chief Rabbi’s Sydney itinerary, told The AJN, “There’s always been a warm relationship between Australian Jewry and the Chief Rabbi, and we look forward to writing the new chapter in this relationship.”

Central Synagogue’s Rabbi Levi Wolff added: “We’re honoured and excited to be able to host this eminent Jewish leader.”

In Canberra, the Chief Rabbi will attend the inauguration of the ACT Jewish community’s Rabbi Alon Meltzer.

In Melbourne, his schedule will take in Caulfield Hebrew Congregation, St Kilda Synagogue, Blake Street Hebrew Congregation, Mizrachi and Central Shule. He will also speak at Mount Scopus Memorial College, Leibler Yavneh College and Bnei Akiva. Rabbi James Kennard, who is coordinating the Melbourne leg of Rabbi Mirvis’s visit, said, “We are honoured and excited that the Chief Rabbi is visiting us. The community looks forward to his visit and to learning from him.”

For more details of the Chief Rabbi’s speaking engagements, contact the individual organisations.